Iopromide. Clinical experience with a new non-ionic contrast medium

The first clinical experience with a new non-ionic, renally excreted contrast medium is described. It is stable in aqueous solution and thus directly applicable. Urography was performed in 7 patients after intravenous injection of 30 to 100 ml, 300 mg I/ml. The usual laboratory examinations of blood and urine parameters and the determinations necessary for complete pharmacokinetics were performed for 6 days after the examination. In 6 healthy volunteers the laboratory parameters obtained in the patients were tested for reproducibility. The kidneys and the pelvicalyceal details were well demonstrated but the urinary bladder only partly so, due to the reduced diuresis. No change of laboratory parameters which could be considered to be caused by the contrast medium itself occurred. Fluctuations in the enzyme activities within the normal range during the first 12 to 24 hours were considered to be circadian fluctuations. Microscopic haematuria found in some patients was not confirmed in the volunteers. The pharmacokinetics were determined by the high polarity of the substance. The heterotopic elimination was negligible. The renal elimination took place by glomerular filtration. No metabolization of the contrast medium was found. According to the results obtained in a sample of 13 subjects the substance appears suitable as a contrast medium for urography and angiography.